Students petition Mayor to save Charachira pond

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Students of a city school have approached the City Corporation urging it to protect Charachira pond. The pond is located near their school. Nine students of the Holy Angels’ ISC School, guided by their teacher Evangeline Sugunan, met the Mayor on Wednesday to submit a brief report of their study which revealed how the unscientific construction of a retaining wall is slowly suffocating the pond. Construction of the retaining wall separates the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems which complement each other.

The wall will eventually destroy the water body in Nanthencode ward, they told Mayor V K Prasanth. The students - Pallavi Kailas, Meenakshy Sudheer, Jessica Sara Suresh, Alina, Rukiya Shanavas, Vasundhara S P, Anusree A P, Khadeeja Ansar and Krishna Sudheesh studied Charachira pond - as part of the Wipro Earthian Sustainability Education Programme.  

In their report, the students pointed out the pond was traditionally used for washing clothes by the dhobies. The local people also used to fish in it. But now, the pond has turned filthy. “The banks of the pond has turned into a waste dumping ground and is littered with plastic bags. Once the concrete retaining wall comes up it will reduce the area of the pond,” the students said. The students also found that an adjacent lane is being widened. The report points out that the sewerage pipes of the nearby residences have been directed into the pond, further contaminating it.

“While presenting our report at the regional recognition event Dr C Bhaskaran, working group member of the State Planning Board,  suggested geo-textiles can be used to reduce the siltation process,” the report said. In February last year, students had led a successful demonstration against plans to open a beverages corporation outlet near their school.

Quotes:
The banks of the pond has turned into a waste dumping ground and is littered with plastic bags. Once the concrete retaining wall comes up it will reduce the area of the pond - students, Holy Angels’ ISC School